Robert Kelsey Gets 50 Years for Child Sex Abuse

Robert Kelsey, 29, of Washington, D.C., is going away for 50 years after being sentenced for the sexual abuse of an 11-year-old girl he lured through Instagram. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton, marks the end of a years-long case rooted in deception, exploitation, and the predatory use of social media to access a vulnerable child.

Kelsey was convicted by a jury on August 29, 2016, on multiple federal charges: transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, aggravated sexual abuse of a child, and first-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances. The crimes date back to July 25, 2014, when Kelsey, then 26, used a fake identity on Instagram—posing as a 19-year-old with a fictitious name—to groom the girl before escalating to in-person contact.

That day, Kelsey drove from D.C. to Bowie, Maryland, where he picked up the girl from her summer camp at an elementary school. He lied to staff, claiming to be her cousin, and took her to his home. There, he sexually abused her before returning her near the camp. By then, her father had arrived to pick her up and learned she’d been taken. Police were called immediately. The girl disclosed the assault, setting off a swift investigation by Prince George’s County police.

The case was quickly escalated to the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth Investigations Division. DNA collected during a medical exam of the victim directly linked Kelsey to the crime. Evidence also revealed the pair had moved their conversations to Kik Messenger, where Kelsey openly expressed sexual interest in the girl—digital proof that sealed his guilt.

As a convicted felon, Kelsey will be required to register as a sex offender for life. Upon completion of his 50-year prison term, he will face lifetime supervised release—a rare and severe measure underscoring the gravity of his crimes. Federal prosecutors emphasized that the sentence sends a clear message: predators who exploit children online will face the full force of the law.

This case was prosecuted under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched in 2006 to combat online child exploitation. Officials, including U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, FBI Assistant Director Paul M. Abbate, and MPD Interim Chief Peter Newsham, praised the collaborative effort between federal and local law enforcement that led to Kelsey’s arrest and conviction. They also acknowledged the victim support team from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, whose work ensured justice was served in one of the most disturbing cases of child predation in recent D.C. history.